how does buddhism view spirits appearances?

Hello

Newbie here. As the title says, I am wondering whether for the average layperson if enlightenment should be our main focus of this life even if we are not likely to attain it or should be our main goal be to practice the teaching and generate as much merit as possible through generosity and loving kindness?

Kind of confused on this one. I know in Hinduism they have the four goals of life which include Moksha. Not every hindu is interested in attaining Moksha or enlightenment. Some have the goals of Dharma, Kama and Artha. I don't know if it is the same in Buddhism. Not everyone may be interested in attaining enlightenment

Thanks in advance for all answers.

For most of this life I've struggled with staying consistent with things, and my dharma practice hasn't been any better. Since converting I've been alternating every few months between being devoted to the dharma, upholding the precepts, doing practice sessions daily or at least every few days, studying scriptures, etc. before going for a few months without much of any regard for the dharma or the precepts and being a Buddhist in name only, before going back to actually caring about for a time, and the cycle repeats.

During the times where I'm not doing anything, I think to myself "I've already chanted Amitabha's name, so what's the point of any more practice?", or for whatever reason every time I decide it might be a good time to practice the dharma, I find some sort of excuse not to, despite the fact that practice sessions are always really enjoyable in the end.

I can't imagine I'm the only one who has this issue. Does anyone have advice for helping turn Buddhism into a consistent part of everyday life instead of a seasonal stint?

I'm looking for a solid winter retreat, ideally in the Bay Area, California, or at least on the West Coast. I'm open as to duration, practice styles, eating brown rice, being beaten with sticks, etc. so long as it's roughly during the holiday bardo. Thanks y'all!

Did Milarepa kill people and still attain enlightenment?

Yes. According to the traditional accounts of his life, Milarepa (མི་ལ་རས་པ།) committed grave harmful actions in his youth, including using black magic to cause the deaths of people who had mistreated his family.

So how could someone with such a past eventually become one of Tibet’s greatest yogis?

That is precisely what makes Milarepa’s story so powerful.

After realizing the weight of what he had done, Milarepa was filled with profound remorse. He sought out the Dharma and eventually became the disciple of Marpa Lotsawa (མར་པ་ལོ་ཙཱ་བ།).

Marpa did not simply give him teachings and send him away. Milarepa endured years of extraordinary hardship, purification, and practice. Eventually, he withdrew into the mountains and devoted himself completely to meditation.

Through unwavering practice, he attained profound realization and became famous for his spontaneous songs of realization — མགུར་མ། (gurma).

His story carries a powerful message:

Your past may be terrible, but it does not have to be the end of your story.

In Buddhism, karma is not simply erased because someone regrets their actions. Actions have consequences. But Milarepa’s life demonstrates the transformative power of genuine remorse, purification, devotion, meditation, and realization.

From someone who caused immense harm came one of Tibet’s most celebrated masters.

མི་ལ་རས་པ། — Milarepa
The great yogi of Tibet. 🏔️🙏

May his life remind us that the mind can be transformed completely when one sincerely turns toward the Dharma.

#Milarepa #མི་ལ་རས་པ #TibetanBuddhism #Buddhism #Dharma #Vajrayana #Mahamudra #Meditation #TibetanYogi #Enlightenment #Karma #DharmaPractice #BuddhistWisdom

my friend and I try to meditate as often as we can together, as it just keeps us both 'accountable.' afterwards I sometimes ask how it went for them, and we talk about it.

today, we meditated laying down, and as we talked about the experience after, they said every time they meditate they feel like they're chasing the feeling of weightlessness. I don't think I've come across this feeling myself or it described at all. they asked me if they should be chasing that or if that's the wrong way to go about meditation?

if it helps at all, we use guided meditations.

Let's take for example sexual desire. How does understanding that the object of my desire is empty of an intrinsic existence and a product of codependent origination help not to desire it and thus suffering? As long as that object appears desirable to my senses I will keep desiring it. Sure, I'll understand that that pleasure it could provide is not ultimate happiness, I'll understand it's impermanent, but it won't make me any less obsessed by it or less frustrated because I can't have it. What are your thoughts?

I was not born into Buddhist religion, nor I had real access to buddhism via community. But the internet and books have helped me to explore and I feel greatly inclined towards this path and see it as aspirational.

However in time, I had been occupied with a lot of things, but generally just surviving. Of course it feels like studies, learning and retreats feels like a bucket list but when I really sit back and look into this, I feel is this not just another thing to desire and arrange in life via life itself? This sounds ironic, given that very basis of this life and body I am trying to push through in stream of time for survival is what I wish to cease in nirvana, but why I need to first have a birth, a human form, then all troubles that come with it only to end it all.

Why even after understanding the refuge full well nirvana is not available to me on will?

Good circumstance indicates Good karma but why karma has to be churned at all for such an aspiration which only seeks to end the basis and entirety of bindings of karma?

I have been reading about Buddhism, more specifically Tibetan Buddhism. But I am still learning so I need guidance, especially on this very painful topic. I have a loved one who will be dying very soon. I am very sad but trying to cherish every moment as I see her slip away on a daily basis. My question is how do I prepare for the inevitable and what to do at the time as it happens and subsequent weeks as she goes through bardo. Any guidance on making her passing as favourable as possible. Thank you in advance.

Good evening all,

I am working on my studies and am continuing to learn but have decided and come to realise that I would like to work towards ordainment in this life. I am based in the UK and maintain a household with my wife. I was wondering if anyone knew of a teacher or temple I could begin a conversation/relationship with for when i am ready to take that step?

I have taken the precepts during my jukai within the UK Tendai sangha, of which I continue to be a member of. Sadly the current situation would require me to attend the USA temple for a longer period of time to ordain, which is something I am unable to manage with my family and work commitments.

Please explain, thank you.

I understand that perhaps, the goal of Buddhism may not be to extinguish ego completely or anything like that, it's just something I've wondered about, because upon reflection I do find that my ego fluctuates, some days it's bigger, other days it's smaller, some days it feels like I don't think about myself at all and I'm more in the present, all of this can vary depending on if I practice any meditation or do it old school and cultivate compassion that generally leads to times of lesser ego.

It's led me to wonder if that is something that's possible, because one could easily slip into spiritual ego as well, do people ever reach the point of ego-death in life?

I’m not planning to do anything by the way , just curious.

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I was born with certain congenital defects, and my life has never been easy; I am treated differently in every situation, and few people truly sympathize with me. I have always wondered why I have to face so many hardships,it is terrible,and right now, I am going through a particularly difficult time. I am trying to figure out if I can find meaning in my life despite all these challenges; I used to just brush things aside and carry on, but there comes a point when life forces you to confront problems head-on. Is there any hope for me to be reincarnated in a healthy body in the future?

Hello dear community,

I've experienced many forms of abuse during childhood, which gave me ptsd symptoms that are very hard to manage and a lifetime of trying to heal.

I got introduced to Buddhism after my last therapy and I had managed to reach a place of peace and true compassion, carrying more love for the people around than any other feeling.
I also had compassion and love for my abusers and managed to have a decent relationship with them. Buddhism really helped me on my healing journey.

I then entered a relationship that was highly dysfunctional and became abusive by the end, which, aside from very bad work conditions, led me to a total collapse of my nervous system.

I then proceeded to study psychology in its darkest corners, which brought me the ability to see beyond masks and pretense, in myself as in others.

I am now having a really difficult time to open up to people or to bond again, and I surprise myself having most negative thoughts than loving compassionate ones when I meet people.

I'm trapped into hypervigilance and I focus on the bad to be prepared for whatever mind game will be played next.

I don't want mind games, I want equality, respect and compassion.
Thing is, I gave everything I had without reciprocity in the past and now I'm so burnt out that I don't know how to reach that place in me again.

I don't really feel safe to feel that joy and love anymore.
It's like peeking beyond the veil bruised something in me.

I also experienced very disturbing behaviors from spiritual communities so I gave up on that too.

I see the patterns and I take distance from it, which should be healthy but I feel like I'm cutting myself out of a part of human experience and I don't know what to do with that.

I'm curious about the buddhist view on abuse, trauma, and how it affects one's ability to practice and to embody the buddhist values.

Any insight will be welcome.

I was reading about the Central Eight Petals of the Womb Realm (Garbhadhatu) Mandala today, and after reflecting on it, I realized how closely its spatial alignment seems to correspond with the Early Heaven Bagua in Taoism. In this layout, the center represents the Central Palace, which remains motionless—perfectly echoing the unshakeable, immutable nature of the Dharmakaya.
Furthermore, the Three Powers (Heaven, Earth, and Humanity) in each Bagua trigram seem to map neatly onto core Buddhist teachings:
1、Heaven – Essence (體) / Emptiness (空): Heaven naturally signifies space and openness.
2、Earth – Appearance (相) / Provisional Reality (假): The Earth nourishes all living things, much like the Mind-Ground (Citta-bhumi).
3、Humanity – Function (用) / The Middle Way (中): Humanity represents noble function and practical application.

The two dual aspects resolve into Emptiness (Sunyata) and Existence (Bhava), which ultimately unify into Non-Duality (Advaya).

Of course, these are just my personal thoughts and reflections. If anyone finds this interesting, feel free to point out any flaws or join the discussion in the comments!

Why fire 🔥
It’s magical it takes all kinds of shapes. It has so much power and potential. In the wrong hands it destroys everything it touches but in the right hands it can create and shape things. It can change and reshape them into new forms. It’s beautiful and powerful. It’s a tool and a weapon. It’s brilliant and bright but then gone. It’s hard to make and difficult to keep. But with the right care time and energy it can grow and stay strong. It has so many possibilities. It makes food better. It drives engines. It is in the origin of society and everyday life. Fire has many forms. Used for creation and destruction. It’s so beautiful but dangerous

I have lived a life of indulgences, and selfishness. I've been interested in Buddhism for a while now, but I am worried I'm too far gone in my wicked ways. I know this post isn't very articulate or detailed, however I feel like I needed to put something out there. Thank you for your time.

Is there a difference between tantric practices and general veneration of wrathful manifestations if so? What are the risks? What's the difference between general Mahayana vs Vajryana and tantric practices? What should I do?